This reality is not a masquerade ball
that stirs movement in the dark,

and the blood that dripped into a chalice
before she donned latex and a leather collar
was pure

and real.

He took in her donation from the cup
felt the real presence of her
mix with his saliva, offer him life.

They are not chained to sadomasochistic role play;
she is not his fashion vamp.

He is only doing what we all do –
trying to survive. She
his willing sustenance.

Rene Schwiesow is host of the popular South Shore poetry venue The Art of Words. A Somerville Bagel Bard, she has been published in Ibbetson Street, Muddy River, Midway Journal and The Waterhouse Review among others.